Improved apparatus for heating buildings



S. F. GOLD.

Steam Heater.

a/@030 fm Patented June 21, 1859.- I

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL F. GOLD, OF CORNWALL, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR HEATING BUILDINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 24,456, dated June 21, 1859.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL F. GOLD, of Cornwall, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for WVarming Buildings by Steam; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming part of this specification, in the several figures of which similar characters of reference denote the same parts.

Figure 1 is afront elevation of the generator and steam-chamber of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on a: x perpendicular to plane of face. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on y y. Fig. 4 is a vertical section parallel to the face of one of the interior sections on 2 2. Fig. 5 is a section of supplementary steamchambers, taken parallel to the face thereof.

This invention has reference to the construction of the generator and steam-chamber of apparatus for warming buildings by steam, and is designed to favor economy of construction, durability, facility of operation, and other advantages, which will be named in proper order.

The nature of the invention consists in so constructing the generator that it shall be made up of a series of similar sections, each a complete generator of itself, castin a single piece and made to communicate with each other and the steam-chamber, as will be hereinafter set forth, the supplementary steamchamber being constructed in a similar manner, and other details, such as will be fully specified in the following description.

In the drawings thegenerator is represented as made up of four sections, A, B, C, and D, the first-named being the exterior sections, the sections C and D having the form shown in Fig. 4, the number of which inserted between the outer sections regulates the capacity of the generator. These sections are all of cast metal, of a single piece, formed by casting on cores. The flat faces are surrounded by a raised rim reaching to the bottom of the water-leg, as seen at a, so that when the sections are placed in position there are formed a series of chambers, E, between the water and steam spaces of the sections. The front section, A, is provided with an opening, 0, for fuel, and the rear section, B, has an exit, F, for theproducts of combustion. This series of sectional generators constitutes a single generator when united by screw-bolts b, the sections communicating at top and bottom by the large openings (2, through which these bolts pass. By this construction the capacity of the generator is regulated to size of building to be warmed by the insertion of the proper number of intermediate sections, each .of which adds water and steam space and heating-surface complete for itself and gives an additional chamber, E. These chambers E, being directly over the fire, receive the heat rising therefrom, and, being out of the draft, the full effect of the caloric is imparted to the sectional generators. Herein this construction differs from all other modes of diffusing the heat about the surfaces upon which it is required. The heat rises into chambers without outlet, instead of being carried by a current through flues. Each section has at its upper extremity a pipe, p, upon which is tobe a pipe, 19, of the supplementary steamchamber P. This chamber is made up of any desired number of flat sections, G, cast on cores in the same manner as the sections of the generator. The sections are united by bolts (1, passing through openings 1', as shown in Fig. 5, and securing any desired number together, the sections having openings at top and bottom by which communication is established between them. These sections being similar, the capacity of the chamber is increased or diminished by adding to or takin g away sections, the number being governed by the requirements of the apparatus.

A simple valve, V, with a rod, '1', operated from the outside, as figured in the sectional view, serves to shut off the supplementary chamber from communication with the generator when desired. The manner of arranging these supplementary chambers above the generator will depend on locality and the total number required, each chamber to be made up of the desired number of sections,

as above set forth, and a chamber placed in communication with each section of generator. The manner of constructing these supplementary chambers in flat sections gives great surface forradiation Withbut comparatively small internal space. Therefore the chambers will offerno obstacle to the generation of steam.

In the construction of the generator, by making it up of a series of sections, as described, the disadvantages heretofore experienced in the construction of cast-iron boilers are overcome. The great difiiculty lies in the danger of rupture arising from unequal expansion of the inner and outer surfaces. This is altogether obviated by the construction here described, since there is comparatively but little exterior surface to the generator, and that, being in intimate contact with what may be termed the internal surface, is heated to the same degree. This is altogether owing to the sectional manner in which the generator is made up, as in enlarging the capacity of the generator additional internal sections are inserted whose whole surface, with the exception of a narrow edge, is internal surface.

The chambers E, which are of the character of a cuZ-cZe-sac, rise above the water-line a b to the top of the steam-space, and this heats the entire surface to the top of each section. Herein these chambers differ essentially from Water-legs and other devices of flue-boilers, and impart a property to the sectional construction not po:se:s3d by any other character of generator.

The sectional construction, besides its adaptability to the end in view, is particularly advantageous from the facility it gives for constru ctin g generators of various capacities, the ease With which any portion maybe repaired, and facility of changing a generator of small capacity into one of larger. It is, moreover,

cheaper of construction than any generator now in use.

The supplementary chambers P are designed pipes 19 and 19 back into the heated steamchamber of the generator, where it is instantly reconverted again into steam.

I make no claim to horizontal cylindrical boilers coupled together as now used. Neither do I claim water-legs below the main Waterchamber of steam-boilers, as such differs from my invention. I also disclaim vertical-flue boilers; but

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Constructing the generator of a series of similar cast-metal sections, each complete in itself and united, substantially as described, so that the capacity of the generator will be governed by the number of sections used, and may be increased or diminished by adding or removing any desired number of the internal sections.

2. Constructing these sections so that when united there Will exist the chambers E, rising above the Water-line and out of the draft of the furnace, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In combination with the generator, the supplementary steam-chambers made up of flat cast-metal sections, substantially as specilied.

In testimon y whereof I have hereunto signed my name before two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL F. GOLD.

WVitnesses:

S. L. FORD, S. A. JoHNsoN. 

